Into the Night’s Maw

The cold wind cut through the air as Xing Wuye sat atop his horse, galloping swiftly toward his destination. The rhythmic thudding of hooves against the dirt road filled the silence of the night, but Wuye's mind was elsewhere. The Akashic Records had shown him visions of the past—distant memories of a time long before his birth. He thought back to the image of his village, a place he hadn't seen in years, now buried deep beneath a vast body of water.

In the vision, he had glimpsed the far eastern islands beyond his village, mysterious and distant. The Akashic Records had hinted at an ancient inheritance lying there, hidden on one of those islands. But the risk of the journey, coupled with the uncertainty of whether the inheritance still existed, had forced him to dismiss the thought. A long boat ride across treacherous seas, with no guarantee of reward—it wasn't a gamble he was willing to take.

Instead, he had set his sights on the inheritance closer to his current path. After cross-referencing the map he had purchased with the one shown to him by the Akashic Records, he had pinpointed its location. Yet, as he glanced at the map tucked into his belt, a nagging doubt crept into his mind.

"This map…" he muttered to himself, narrowing his eyes as he studied the terrain. Something about it seemed incomplete. Details were missing—important landmarks that should have been marked were absent. He wondered if the merchant had cheated him. Or perhaps maps like these were simply expensive, and he had purchased a cheaper, less accurate version.

"Either way, I'll make do," he thought, feeling the urgency of his mission press upon him. Time was of the essence.

Night had already begun to fall, the sky darkening as the last traces of sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon. Wuye continued riding, his horse maintaining a steady pace. The world around him grew quieter, save for the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze and the occasional distant cry of a nocturnal creature.

Everything seemed peaceful, for the moment.

Suddenly, a faint noise caught his attention. It was subtle at first—a series of chittering sounds, almost too quiet to hear over the sound of his horse's hooves. But as the minutes passed, the noise grew louder, more persistent. Low, guttural growls followed, and the hairs on the back of Wuye's neck stood on end.

He slowed his horse slightly, his keen senses scanning the surrounding woods. Something was out there, lurking in the shadows. His eyes darted from tree to tree, but the forest remained still. Then, from the darkness, he saw movement—small, swift shapes slinking between the trees. They moved with unnerving speed, their forms barely visible against the night.

Wuye's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword. "What in the heavens…"

Without warning, one of the creatures broke from the shadows, lunging toward his horse. In the moonlight, Wuye caught his first glimpse of the attackers. They were wolf-sized, their bodies pale and gaunt, with three pairs of legs propelling them forward. Their skin seemed almost translucent, and they had no eyes—just smooth, blank faces. Despite their lack of sight, they moved with alarming precision, guided by some other sense.

The first creature leaped at Wuye, but he was ready. In a flash, he drew his sword, slashing through the creature's legs mid-air. The pale beast let out a horrible screech as it crumpled to the ground, its legs severed. Wuye kicked another creature that had drawn too close to his horse's side, sending it tumbling into the dirt.

But the creatures didn't relent. More of them poured from the forest, their numbers growing by the second. Wuye quickly found himself surrounded. They circled his horse like vultures, their chittering and growling filling the night air as they closed in.

One of the beasts lunged at his horse's legs, sinking its teeth into the flesh. The horse neighed in pain, bucking wildly, but it was no use—the creatures were relentless. Another beast clamped down on the horse's other leg, and soon they began to swarm. Wuye swung his sword in wide arcs, slashing at the creatures that dared come near, but there were too many. He could feel the panic rising in the horse as it struggled against the tide of monsters.

"I have no choice," Wuye thought grimly.

In a swift motion, he leaped from the saddle, launching himself into the air just as the creatures overwhelmed his horse. He landed several paces away, sword still in hand, as the pale creatures tore into the horse, devouring it alive. The sound of their gnashing teeth and ripping flesh was grotesque, but Wuye's face remained cold, emotionless. There was no time to mourn.

He stood tall, gripping his sword tightly as the creatures turned their attention toward him. The moonlight glinted off his blade as he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. "Come at me."

With a deafening roar, the creatures charged. They came from all sides, their legs skittering across the ground as they rushed him like a wave of death. Wuye's mind was clear, his body moving with practiced precision. He ducked beneath the swipe of one creature's claws, driving his sword upward and slicing through its belly in one fluid motion. Dark blood sprayed across the ground, but he didn't stop.

Another creature leaped toward his back, but he twisted at the last moment, bringing his sword down in a powerful arc that cleaved the creature in two. He felt the vibrations of the blade in his hands as it cut through flesh and bone, but his movements were unrelenting.

The beasts kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless. Wuye's breathing grew heavy as he fought, his muscles straining with each strike. They were fast—faster than any normal animal—and they fought with a savage ferocity. But they lacked intelligence, attacking blindly and without strategy.

One creature tried to flank him, coming from his right. Wuye spun, using the momentum of his previous strike to slash through the creature's legs. It fell to the ground with a screech, writhing in pain as it tried to crawl toward him. He kicked it aside and focused on the next threat.

Despite his skill, the sheer number of creatures began to wear him down. They surrounded him once more, biting at his legs and arms. His sword flashed in the moonlight as he fought them off, but he could feel the fatigue setting in.

"I need to end this."

In a moment of clarity, Wuye gathered his Qi, focusing it into his legs. With a burst of speed, he dashed forward, breaking free of the encirclement. The creatures screeched in frustration as they tried to chase him, but he was already several paces ahead.

Wuye skidded to a halt, turning to face the remaining beasts. He raised his sword, gathering his Qi once more. This time, he channeled it into his blade, the weapon glowing faintly as the energy flowed through it.

With a deep breath, he unleashed a powerful slash, sending a wave of Qi flying toward the creatures. The force of the attack tore through them, cutting down several in one blow. The few that survived turned and fled into the night, their chittering cries fading into the distance.

Wuye stood in the aftermath, his sword still glowing with residual Qi. The bodies of the creatures lay scattered around him, the air thick with the stench of blood and death. His breathing was heavy, but his expression remained cold and focused.

He looked down at his horse, or what was left of it. The beasts had devoured most of the flesh, leaving behind a bloody mess of bones and entrails. His face contorted into an ugly expression.

Wuye wiped the blood from his sword and sheathed it, his gaze turning toward the road ahead. His horse was gone, but the path forward remained. His face became indifferent and cold.

"Damn beasts," he muttered, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "This won't stop me."